Faced with the dire need for family doctors, the city of Huntsville is taking steps to attract doctors and reduce the long wait list for primary care.

The municipal council launched a physician incentive program in June, which resulted in new agreements with several doctors.

Since its inception, the City says two doctors have already signed on to establish and take over a practice in the community, and a third is about to sign on to open a new practice.

Three more doctors are expected to join the team next summer, with plans to run existing practices, but the city says that number is tentative as negotiations continue.

Councilman Bob Stone said the positive response so far is encouraging.

“It’s really great to see these results in such a short period of time: two doctors have already signed and several others are waiting. It’s exciting to know that patients who have been waiting for so long for primary care are finally being taken off the waiting list,” Stone said.

To attract more doctors to the community, the city approved a plan at its Wednesday meeting that would allow staff to offer a $70,000 incentive to doctors who take over existing practices and accept more than 200 local patients on the Algonquin Family Health Team waiting list.

Under the terms of the program, all participating physicians will commit to a five-year service agreement.